Acts: 1793

Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1638-1842. Originally published by Edinburgh Printing & Publishing Co, Edinburgh, 1843.

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'Acts: 1793', in Acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1638-1842, (Edinburgh, 1843) pp. 840-842. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/church-scotland-records/acts/1638-1842/pp840-842 [accessed 25 March 2024]

In this section

The principal acts of the general assembly, convened at Edinburgh, May 16, 1793.

I. Sess. 1, May 16, 1793.—The King's Commission to David Earl of Leven produced, and ordered to be recorded.

The General Assembly, &c.

II. Sess. 1, May 16, 1793.—The King's most gracious Letter to the General Assembly, presented to them by his Majesty's Commissioner.

George, R., &c.

III. Sess. 3, May 18, 1793.—The General Assembly's Answer to the King's most gracious Letter.

May it please your Majesty, &c.

IV. Sess. 3, May 18, 1793.—The General Assembly's dutiful Address to his Majesty on the subject of the present War.

Most Gracious Sovereign,
We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, met in the General Assembly, think it our duty, in the present situation of public affairs, to express our zeal for the welfare of our country, and our affectionate regard for a Prince, who is the guardian of liberty, and the father of his people.

We have beheld, with the strongest feelings of disapprobation, the insidious designs and violent attempts of the French nation to overturn the constitutions and disturb the peace of most of the other nations in Europe. We are fully sensible, that, in consequence of the declaration of war by the National Convention of France against Great Britain, and by the acts of hostility in which they have been engaged, your Majesty, with the approbation of Parliament, was necessarily led to take vigorous measures for repressing their ambition, and defeating their unjust enterprises.

Though some of the people under our care were deluded by the dangerous principles which were industriously propagated, we can assure your Majesty that the great body of the members of this National Church continues strongly attached to your Majesty's person and government, and ardently desirous of the success of those measures, which, with the blessing of Providence, may transmit our excellent constitution unimpaired to the latest posterity.

Your Majesty has been graciously pleased to express, by the Lord High Commissioner, the sense which you entertain of the boldness and zeal with which the ministers of the Church of Scotland manifested their loyalty upon a late trying occasion; a mark of your royal approbation which we received with profound respect, and which affords us the most entire satisfaction, because we are conscious that it is not misplaced.

Attached by the genius of Presbyterian government to good order, no less than to freedom, we have employed all our influence in counteracting the tendency of the seditious writings which were assiduously circulated, and in warning the people committed to our care against the busy efforts of designing or deluded men. In the true spirit of those principles which our fathers, in former seasons of danger and alarm, strenuously asserted, we shall continue to cherish in the minds of the people loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, veneration for the British constitution, and obedience to the laws. And having nothing so much at heart as the glory of God, the honour of your Majesty, and the support of your government, we trust, that while we approve ourselves the dutiful servants of the Prince of Peace, we shall enjoy the continuance of your royal protection, and the good opinion of all the true friends of their country.

While we congratulate your Majesty upon the check which, under Divine Providence, has already been given to the alarming progress of our enemies, we offer our earnest supplications that the God of battles may continue to bless your fleets and armies with success, and may bring the present war to a speedy and happy termination. That mutual love and confidence may ever subsist between your Majesty and your subjects; and that a race of Kings of your royal line, lovers of religion, liberty, and their country, may always sway the sceptre over these lands, are the fervent prayers of,
May it please your Majesty, your Majesty's most dutiful, most faithful, and most obedient subjects, the Ministers and Elders met in this National Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Signed in our name, in our presence, and at our appointment, by
Thomas Hardy, Moderator.

V. Sess. 9, May 25, 1793.—Commission of the General Assembly to certain Ministers and Ruling Elders for discussing Affairs referred to them.

The General Assembly, &c.

(Same as in the years 1784 to 1791.)

VI. Sess. 9, May 25, 1793.—Commission to some Ministers and Ruling Elders for the Reformation of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and for Managing his Majesty's Royal Bounty for that end.

The General Assembly, &c.

VII. Sess. ult., May 27, 1793.—New Overture respecting the Licensing of Probationers.

(Re-transmitted.)

VIII. Sess. ult., May 27, 1793.—Overture respecting the Annexation and Suppression of Parishes.

(Re-transmitted.)

IX. Sess. ult., May 27, 1793.—Act appointing the Diet of the next General Assembly.

The next General Assembly of this National Church is appointed to be held within the New Church Aisle of Edinburgh, on Thursday, the 15th day of May 1794.

Extracted from the Records of the General Assembly, by
Andrew Dalzel, Cls. Eccl. Scot.